Treatment outcome of Philadelphia chromosome negative myeloproliferative neoplasms: experience of a single developing country's hematology-oncology centre

BACKGROUND: Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) include polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF) are characterized by excessive production of blood cells. Treatment of MPNs patients has an important effect thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of cytoreductive treatment on some hematological and biochemical parameters in MPNs patients treated at a hemato-oncology Centre in Erbil, Iraq. METHODS: A total of 185 patients diagnosed with PV, ET, and PMF (111 males and 74 females with a mean age of 50.8±3.2 years, range: 46–73) were assigned to receive MPNs treatment. Laboratory tests were performed before and after a median period from the initiation of MPNs treatment of 9.3 months (range 5–10 months). RESULTS: Significant differences were noted in Hemoglobin (P<0.003), Hematocrit (P<0.004), Neutrophil (P<0.001) and glutamate pyruvate transferase levels (P<0.01) in PV patients, Platelet count (P<0.002) in ET patients, and both white blood cell count (P<0.004) and Lactate dehydrogenase level (P<0.001) in PMF patients, while no significant differences were found in other parameters at the time of diagnosis and during therapy. CONCLUSION: Clinical and laboratory improvements were presented in MPNs patients. Regular follow up of patients are essential to ensure prescribed treatment in addition to the continual and long-lasting response to therapy and to prevent thrombosis.